Sorry! I actually had this written last night, but I was going on and off about posting it... seeing as I wasn't exactly 100% pleased with the ending. *sighs*

I want to say thank you all for being so wonderful! You kick ass. And, I know, I am a horrible author not personally thanking you by email. I'm sorry... again. :( But... You still kick ass.

I'm glad last chapter was appreciated. I enjoyed writing it... heehee... Oh, did I.

I was asked by someone where my "written smut comes from". Well... erm.. For one, I am a teenage girl with raging hormones and a very graphic imagination... yeah. I think that's answer enough.

Song(s):

You Are The Best Thing - Ray LaMontagne

OoOoOo....................................OoOoOo

Edward's POV

I enjoyed waking up like this. Waking up with Bella in my arms where I knew she was safe. Her body was on top of mine, her cheek resting against my chest. I secured the sheets over her body, making sure that she was warm.

It was 5:30. I sighed and looked out my windows. We still had a good hour and a half before the sun would appear behind the hills.

Last night had been... well, amazing to say the least. I feared that perhaps I went a little rough on my Bella, but, she seemed to enjoy it. Which, even though I tried to continuously push the thought away, made me wonder how rough I could get with her. It was hard to keep away my animal self when Bella looked the way she did... acts the way she does....

I froze when I realized I was going to be suffering a raging hard-on in a moment. Looking up at the ceiling, I tried picturing an old flabby man wearing a Speedo on the beach.

Ew. You sick pervert.

I shook my head. Somehow the image turned into Bella looking up at me under her eyelashes right before she... you know. Dammit!

I squeezed my eyes shut and willed every part of my body to stay down. Too bad Lil' Eddie had a mind of his own.

I hoped Bella was asleep enough to not notice... even if her body was holding down an excited erection, causing slow torture to its owner.

"Shoot, shoot, shoot." I hissed through my teeth when Bella moved a little on top of me, her left knee now hitched up close to her chest.

I needed to somehow move without waking Bella– I needed to save myself. Bella and her distracting, perfect legs. Big eyes, cute breasts... I was grumbling to myself as I moved my arms off of her.

Bella yawned and stretched her body out. Her naked chest rubbed against me, her lips making light contact with my nipple. Fuckfuckfuckfuck.... Her hand shot up suddenly, making direct contact with my chin. "Fuck!" I grabbed my chin, whispering my shock.

"Oh shit." I quickly tried to steady Bella who had rolled off of me and was now dangerously close to rolling off the bed. What the hell? Doesn't she know when to stop!? My worry was laced with amusement.

When I was sure she was ok, I put my attention back on my throbbing erection and got up from the bed, planning on a cold shower.

"Edward..." Bella moaned and rolled over. "Edward..." She rolled over again, thrashing the covers off of her as she went. If I wasn't so worried for her safety, I might've laughed.

Forgetting my "problem" I started hushing Bella as I slowly walked back to the bed, humming the lullaby fer her.

"No..." Bella frowned in her sleep and grabbed for the pillow. "Dammit, Edward. Stop teasing me– oh!"

I froze, finally realizing what was going on. My Bella was having a sex dream... about me. If my cock wasn't hard enough already, it just about swelled the life out of me then and I whimpered. I desperately wished I knew what exactly she was dreaming about... and knowing her verbal way of expressing dreams, I was sure I would soon find out.

Bella's forehead creased and she flipped on her back, her hand twitching. "Right there, Edward.... God..."

Somehow my hand had made it's way down and took hold of my cock, stroking, trying to find some relief in the torturous scene in front of me.

Bella's hips bucked forward, her back arching off the bed and my eyes widened, my hand going back to finding that comfortable rhythm.

"Ah..." Bella's voice came out sounding like something between a whimper and a moan. She sounded like she was close to an orgasm– heh. I knew now how her body reacted when... "Edward!" ... she did what she wanted to– "Ugn.." I took a deep breath. Do. The words in my mind were jumbled, sounding insane and confusing.

Bella rolled over, trying to, what I assumed, find that release she was not getting. I closed my eyes and breathed through my nose. When I opened them again, I cursed aloud. There on the bed, Bella was still rolling... and rolling... and rolling–

"Bella!" I whispered, loudly, and hopped on the bed, trying to catch her before she rolled right off.

Bella frowned, still asleep and rolled in the other direction just as I tried to wrap my arms around her moving form. My arms came into contact with air and my body kept moving as Bella rolled under me, her leg sending me off the edge of the bed.

"Gah!" I lay sprawled out on the floor, glaring at the ceiling. My body was very much naked and my erection very much deflated.

Pop goes the weasel.

Goddamn.

I continued to lay there, my arms crossed over my chest as I huffed in silence. I heard the covers on the bed start to rustle, and a moment later, a very beautiful yet confused face was hovering over mine.

"What are you doing down there?" Bella's eyebrows arched in surprise. She was holding the sheets close to her body, now propping herself up on her elbow.

I narrowed my eyes accusingly at her. "Oh, I just thought I'd take a look at what's under my bed."

Bella, too tired to really understand, just nodded slowly, rolling onto her back. "Ok."

I sighed and continued to sulk. Yes, I know it was childish. Yes, I know should just get back on the bed. But, no, I was not very happy about Bella's dream ending so abruptly and– I thought of my sore ass– violently.

Bella looked at me, her head dipping as she took in my naked form. A wicked smile crossed her face before she layed back down. "You know, I just had the most wonderful dream."

I glanced down at the lower half of my body and sighed in disappointment. "Really?"

"Hmm. It was about you and you were doing this thing," She paused, remembering. "With your tongue–" My eyebrows disappeared behind my messy hair and I got up on the bed, new found interest returning.

"Oh?" I raised myself on my arms and hovered over Bella.

She chuckled and rose her head, puckering her lips to give me a quick kiss. "Mm-hmm."

"Huh." I glanced at the clock and looked back at her, my crooked grin in place. "We still have an hour before we really have to get up."

"Huh." Bella quoted me, moving a trundle of my hair from my forehead. She looked at me and grinned that smile she was trying to hide.

"Want me to try and pick up where your dream left off?"

"Try?"

"Well, I have many tongue techniques." I dipped my body to hers as I whispered in her ear. I smiled to myself when I saw her eyes widen. "I might have to test them all out before you decide which one was used in your dream." I pulled back to look at her.

Bella was nodding, obvious enthusiasm in her movement. "That makes sense. Let's go, Mr. Cullen. Let's not waste pent up energy. We may spontaneously combust one of these days. What will we do then?"

I smirked. "Is that another one of our many ways to help out the environment?"

Bella wrapped her legs around my waist, pulling me back down to her. "Hard times, remember? Speaking of hard.." She gave me a goofy face and I laughed.

I kissed her, teasing her with my lips, and we continued from where her dream left off.

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"Shit." I hopped around on one foot, trying to pull my pants up. "Are you almost ready, Bella?"

So, to put things simple, our hour somehow turned into an hour and a half... then two hours.. And– well, you get the point. I didn't know how that happened though, seriously. Ech, I lie. I did know how that happened. But, I just couldn't help myself. Bella plus naked equals erect Edward. It's a reflex reaction– I can't control it!

And now, Bella and I were busting our asses to get to school on time. We still had a half hour, but seeing as Bella just got out of the shower... I just hoped Bella wasn't a two-hour-dresser... well, at least for today.

That's just what we needed– first night together and the Chief finds out his daughter was late to class.

"Yeah. Is my bag in– nevermind." Bella walked into my room, a towel secured around her body, and she picked up her bag. "Found it." She sang and hurried back in the bathroom.

I grinned, watching the way her hips swayed, and ran my hand through my hair. I ran my tongue over my teeth and hurried into the bathroom. Bella was already brushing her teeth and I spread the toothpaste over my own toothbrush.

"How did you get dressed so fast?" I asked after doing a double take.

Bella shrugged and bent down to spit. "Jeans and a T doesn't take that much concentration." She smirked at me and place her toothbrush in our holder, whipping her wet hair in a messy bun. "I'll be downstairs to assure Alice that we will be leaving in a few." She rolled her eyes at my sister's screams to hurry up that were now echoing through the house.

I stared at myself in the mirror and really took a good look at myself. The first, honest look I had done in awhile. I had a goofy grin plastered on my face and I looked... happy. Genuinely happy. All because I had the woman of my dreams right with me. My smile widened and I looked down, tapping my toothbrush against the sink, thinking.

When I heard Alice's warning again, I snapped out of it. I looked in the mirror again and nodded at myself.

I now knew what I had to do.

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Bella's POV

Edward and I made it to English just in time. Not really a surprise, though, when I factored in Edward's terrifying driving. That boy sometimes, I swear.

I sat down in my usual seat in the back and tried to focus on Mr. Wilkins, finding it hard sometimes especially since my mind kept wandering off to more interesting events that had taken place this morning...

I sighed and finally found myself focused on the assignment at hand.

The day was going by fast, the only interaction I had with the group was at lunch. Edward held my hand the whole time, a far away look in his eyes. I thought to question it, but decided not to. He'll tell me when he's ready. I decided.

However, in P.E., I was starting to get a little nervous. Edward was acting like his usual self yet... he wasn't. His body was in the class but his mind was somewhere else.

I was relieved when the bell finally rang. Edward wrapped his arm around my shoulders and walked me to Alice's car. (Alice had let the guys know her story she told Charlie and we all decided it was best that we just take her or Rosalie's car to school, leaving the guy's cars parked in front of the house.)

"What's wrong?" I whispered in his ear, finally cracking.

Edward squeezed my hand as Alice turned on the radio, Jasper humming along to the song. He bent down and whispered in my ear. "Nothing's wrong."

I gave him a confused look and he smiled, squeezing my hand again. "You'll see." He mouthed.

Alice must have seen us through her review mirror. "Hey! I want in on the secrets!"

I turned away from Edward and forced a smile for my best friend.

"Bella?" Alice's eyes narrowed as she assessed my expression.

"Eyes on the road, Alice!" Jasper looked like he was about to have a heart attack and Edward and I laughed.

I took a breath and focused on staying calm. No need to overreact, Bella. You remember what happened the last time. I opened my eyes and threaded my fingers through Edward's, leaning on his shoulder. I have to be patient.

ooOoOoOoOoOoOoo

Edward dragged me into his house, up the stairs, and into his room. As soon as his door was shut, he was at his desk, going through drawers.

I sat down on the chair by his window and looked outside. The sun gold-ish light showed through the room, and I allowed the warmth to calm me. I cleared my mind, only feeling how much I loved Edward.

Finally, the rustling stopped and it was quiet for a moment. I opened my eyes to see Edward in front of me, leaning against a large window, holding the box he had shown me on our night of confessions. My eyes widened a bit and I crossed my feet, my hands secured in my lap.

Edward fingered the box, not quite meeting my gaze. "I was thinking..." He began, hesitating just a bit before clearing his throat. "I was thinking about doing something with this."

All I could think of was all those women in that box. So many women... so many memories. It made me sad knowing that he had a way, a source, to remember if he ever wanted too. I wanted to hold him in my arms and have the power to make him forget.

When I didn't answer, Edward continued. "I don't think I want this anymore."

My eyes widened and, finally, Edward looked at me. His eyes blazed with a passion so raw, so intense. "What?" My voice came out as a whisper.

Here I was about to accept that this– this box was going to be a part of his life forever, and Edward was trying to demolish the thing. I knew I should have been happy, but I couldn't register anything over the shock.

Edward smiled his crooked smile at me and set the box down, gesturing for me to come to him. I rose on shaky knees and made my way over to him, standing in front of the window with him.

"Bella, since I have met you, I have become a better man. I don't need the box to remind me of my past. I'm not going to dwell on it anymore. You." He rested his forehead on mine, looking down at me, and taking my hands. "You are all I need to focus on. You are my present and my future, Bella Swan."

I didn't know when the tears started, all I knew was that my cheeks suddenly felt cool and wet.

"Will you help me burn my past?" Edward whispered, looking at me with question in his eyes. As if determining that this was something I wanted too.

Hell, I was ready to burn the box when I first laid eyes on it. Instead of voicing my thoughts, I just nodded. I closed my eyes and tightened my grip on him. "Thank you." I whispered after awhile, Edward and I just standing there, basking in each other's presence.

Edward smiled and kissed the tip of my nose. "Thank you."

I smiled back at him and Edward pulled away, grabbing the box. He raised his eyebrows at me, a silent question in his eyes. I took his hand and pulled him out his room and down the stairs.

Emmett, Rosalie, Alice, and Jasper stared at us, wondering what was going on, but didn't question us as I pulled Edward outside. He took the lead then, walking us further out his backyard until we reached the edge of a large pond. Edward looked at me and I nodded, encouraging him to continue.

He opened the box and pulled out a lighter, carefully avoiding the pictures and letters. Edward flicked the lighter and pulled out a picture, burning it before placing it in the water. We watched it for a moment, small ripples appearing on the surface of the water from the slight disturbance. I took the box from Edward and held it open, letting him know, even as small as the gesture was, that I was there for him– always.

Edward gave me a small smile and went back to the box. He burned picture after picture, letter by letter... not showing a sign of regret at what he was doing, only of what he had done. I reached up to kiss him, communicating to him with my eyes, letting him know how hard I knew this was for him. Letting him know how proud I was of him.

When Edward got to the tapes, he stopped, staring.

"Edward?" I whispered.

He was brought back to the present and looked at me, reassuring me that he was ok. Edward threw the tapes on the ground, one by one, and stomped his foot on them. Each time his foot went down, it was with force and feeling. His expression was fierce each time, a look of disgust on his perfect features. When he was finished, he threw the pieces into the water.

He grabbed the box and grabbed heavy rocks by the edge of the water, placing them in before setting the box in the water. We watched the carefully carved antique sink to the bottom of the pond. The pond was now alight with fire, the pictures and papers floating as they burned.

Edward threw the lighter somewhere in the trees and then took me in his arms, holding me. The sun was setting now, the sky reflecting pretty colors. Fireflies were somewhat visible as they danced around the water. I shivered and held Edward closer to me.

He tilted my chin up with his finger and stared into my eyes. I stared back, his own green eyes holding so much depth, and, suddenly, Edward seemed wiser beyond his years; the pain and the regret etched in his face. I smiled, but even to me, the attempt seemed weak.

This was a victorious moment for Edward, but victory came in strange ways. Items of his past had been burned physically, mentally he was still healing. "How do you feel?" I asked in my best Dr. Phil voice, trying to lighten the mood some.

It worked. Edward chuckled and then, his eyes were bright again. "I feel... relieved. I feel so– light."

"I'm glad."

Edward hugged me to his chest. "I couldn't have done it without you, Bella."

"Yeah you could have. You just wouldn't have done such a good job." I wrapped my arms around his waist and felt the rumble of his laughter.

Edward seemed better. His mood was happy– radiating the carefree aura that had attracted me to him in the first place.

"Did that bother you at all?" Edward suddenly asked. "You having to be here as I went through everything again?"

I sighed. "Not at all. I think I got more of a kick seeing you burn that stuff than you." We shared a laugh, and Edward grabbed hold of my shoulders, pushing me back a bit so that he could look into my eyes again.

"I love you."

My smile was vibrant as I reached up on my toes to kiss him. It was a slow kiss, sensual. I tried to let him feel the passion in me as I kissed him, my hands resting lightly against his waist.

"I love you so much." I whispered back to him.

We stood there until the sun was down completely and the fire in the pond was faint, most of the lit items already burned out and destroyed.

"Bella? Edward?" We heard Alice's small voice from the house. She was carrying a flashlight and looked scared.

Edward and I shared a look, knowing that our intimate moment was now over.

"I can't see them, Jazz! What if they fell!?"

"In what?" We heard an amused masculine voice and Edward and I chuckled at our friends, wondering how long we could keep this up. "The four foot pond?"

"It's very possible." I heard Alice sniff in disdain.

"Did you find them yet?" Rosalie's voice was worried and annoyed. "Dammit, it's freezing out here. Emmett, warm me up!"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Not like that you sex-addict!"

"You know you love me for it."

"Shut up!" Alice screeched. "My best friend is out there probably dying!"

I chuckled and Edward huffed. "What am I, chopped liver?"

"Edward! Bella!" We heard Emmett's loud voice yell followed by a loud smack.

"Don't scream! You could alert the bears!" Alice was pointing her flashlight every which way now.

"Alert the bears." Emmett snorted, and pointed to Alice's frantic movements with the light. "You're sending morse code to the UFO's." He scoffed. "And people think I'm the dumb one."

I stiffled my laughter and grabbed Edward's hand. "Let's go before they call the Chief."

Edward agreed, his eyes deeply amused. "Let's try something." Then he grabbed my waist and poked me.

I screamed in shock and then ran away from him, already seeing what he was doing. "Stop it!" I made sure my screams were shrill and loud.

"Bella?" Rosalie's voice was high with worry and I saw her clutch to Emmett. Alice's flashlight was darting between the trees, not seeing that I was almost in front of her.

Edward chased me, his hands clawed in the air like he was going to attack me. I turned around and was actually scared for a moment, seeing how frightening the dark made his now-attacking-form.

Of course, me turning around and running at the same time was not a good idea, and I tripped over... air. Rolling my eyes at my clumsiness, I scrambled on my back and screamed when I saw Edward directly above me.

He yelled some weird sounding noise and I heard Alice, Rosalie, and... Emmett? scream as well.

"What the Hell? Get off of me, man!" I turned around when Edward looked up and we saw the girls clinging to each other and Emmett practically clinging to Jasper, Jasper having to hold up a leg Emmett threw up to find protection, his arms clinging around his... "savior."

I busted out laughing, Edward following suit, and soon I was clutching my sides, attempting to get up only to fall back over again.

"I'm sorry–"

"So sorry." Edward cut in, still laughing when Alice threw her flashlight at him. He helped me up and we watched Rosalie smack Emmett's head.

"You idiot! You pushed me off of you just so you could find your own safety!?" She huffed and stomped inside the house after Alice.

"Psh. I don't know what she's talking about." Emmett was brushing off his arms. "I'm sorry, Jasper. But, when it comes to saving people, I got to go for your sister first. I know how close we are, but... I have a girlfriend." He patted Jasper's shoulder and walked into the house.

I snorted at Jasper's shocked expression. I walked past him, pausing to pat his shoulder. "Yeah, Jasper... not cool." I shook my head and walked inside.

"Whichever way you swing, man." I heard Edward say, before clapping his friend's back.

"I– wait– what?" Jasper turned around, his eyes wide as he tried to take in what just happened. "I didn't– Emmett!" He yelled and passed us in the living room, now looking like he was going to kill. He found Emmett trying to assure Rosalie that her safety came before his own. "You!" Jasper pointed his finger at his friend, his glare threatening.

Emmett turned around and looked at him. "Crap. I love you, baby." Emmett kissed Rose's cheek and jumped up on the couch, waving his arms forward. "Bring it, Jazz." He cracked his neck to the side. "You can't handle this."

Edward and I watched with interest, not really understanding how our little joke could cause so much competition. But, then again, it was Emmett and Jasper.

"Tell them what happened!" Jasper was rolling up his sleeves, still trying to defend himself, trying to convince us something we already knew. "You jumped on me!"

"I only tell the truth, young grasshopper." Emmett made some weird noise and karate chopped the air. "I'll go easy on you."

"I'm gonna kick your ass, man!"

"Hmm. You're going to be seeing the white version of Jackie Chan in a minute, bro. Bruce Lee if you're lucky. You better be nice to me." Emmett waved his hands forward, gesturing for Jasper to bring it.

"Jasper Whitlock! Emmett McCarty! You put a tear in that couch and I will kill you both. And it will be a slow and painful death." Alice appeared at the doorway of the kitchen, her fashion magazine rolled up as she hit it against her hand.

"This is not over." Jasper gave Emmett a death glare and sat down on the recliner. When Emmett was sure he didn't need to run, he slowly sat back down on the couch.

"Wow." Edward mouthed.

"Agreed." I said, watching as Jasper and Emmett silently agreed to a stare-down, Rosalie filing her nails, and Alice rearranging the living room.

Edward took my hand and put it to his mouth, his lips brushing over my knuckles. I continued to watch my family and friends around me, thankful that I had them. A light to my dark tunnel. I sighed and leaned back into Edward, not noticing when my eyes shut, the exhausting day taking its toll on me.

The last thing I remembered was Edward humming his lullaby to me, whispering sweet nothings in my ear.

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Umm..yeah. I needed to lighten up the mood some... so... huh. It's not that I don't like what was written, I'm just not sure if the funnier parts should've been held off till next chapter...

Oh well.

Next chapter is all fun. Whoo! Well, of course with the occasional depth, but it's party time for reals! haha. Someone said something about a drinking game..? Nice idea... definitely a Friday event, though.. :)